“Two more meters, hanet (almost there)!” shouts the tour guide at us, a group of panting tourists climbing up the steep road to the top of “Heisa” island. We had just left Philae temple, the crown jewel of Aswan, which is adjacent to the small island. Heisa is a small island located east of Aswan, squeezed between the Philae Temple and the Nile River Dam. It is one of the oldest standing Nubian islands and the only one that remains to this day. The town sits on high ground, making it an adventure for anyone who wants to visit. Some are dizzy from the boat ride from the Aswan port; others are starving after a long day of exploring the city’s many temples and attractions. The island doesn’t look like much when we arrive, all we could see is a steep hill with a completely empty road leading up. In the distance, we could see small figures but we weren’t able to make them out yet. Exhausted yet curious, we push ourselves a little more in hopes of reaching the top of the dirt roads, marking the end goal of…
